A TEESSIDE pensioner is enjoying a new lease of life after becoming the oldest person in the region to undergo a lung transplant.

In 2008, Les Whitehouse, from Norton, was given the terrible news he only had six months to live.

The great-grandad and dad-of-six had been diagnosed with hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

But supported by Judy, his wife of 27 years, a defiant Les refused to give in - and a year later was still hanging on. “Every day Les was here was a bonus as he could die any time,” said Judy.

The couple were called up to Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital where, after four days of tests, Les learned he was a candidate for a lung transplant.

And on December 3 last year - at the age of 65 - he was given the lifesaving op at the Freeman.

Judy said: “They said there was already a recipient for the lungs and Les was going as back-up. But they confirmed Les was going to be given the left lung. They said there was a 60/40 chance it would work and we had to say our goodbyes.”

But work it did.

The pensioner’s right lung has since given out and he is now surviving on the donor lung alone. He must take 54 anti-rejection tablets every day - but most importantly he now has a future.

“I’ve been given a new lease of life,” he said.

“At 65 you don’t expect a transplant. The age they usually do the cut off is 60 or below. I’ve had a few problems, but I’ve had minimal rejection.”

Judy, 46, said the doctors put Les forward for the transplant because he was fit for his age. She said: “He lost five and a half stone, and when he goes out he needs a wheelchair. But he can potter around the house and go for little walks. He lives his life to the full.”

The couple were given minor details of Les’ donor and know he was a 35-year-old man. They now intend to write to his family.

“We want to tell them how much this means to us that Les got a donor lung,” said Judy.

“You never think its going to happen, but when you get that phone call it’s amazing.”

The NHS Blood and Transplant service confirmed Les is the oldest recipient in the North-east to have had a lung transplant, but not in the UK. The oldest person was 69.

Les, formerly a trade sales expert at B&Q, and his wife said they wanted to thank the staff at the Freeman Hospital and on Ward 27A. “Les was in there until January and the staff were brilliant,” said Judy, a Stockton care home assistant.

The couple, who have both been on the donor list for 20 years themselves, also wanted to encourage other people to join the donor register.